Tuesday, July 18, 2017
The Politics in Plays: August Wilson
Breaking Character: What does it mean for art to be political? It could mean the art presents direct and indirect perspectives on society. It could also mean the art refers to a specific political figure or subject that “expresses critique” of the status quo. One man whose art, in the form of theater, can be interpreted as political is that of August Wilson.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
One reason why I find theatre, and the arts in general, so valuable, is that they make you think. Not only are you focused on the plot and the character development, but you are also likely to compare the story to your own life. This was an important effect from the plays of August Wilson, as mentioned in the article. Even if he didn't sit down to write a "political" play, it became political. He began by simply writing about his life and his struggles, which in turn translated into the plight of African Americans. He could not write about himself and his family without calling into attention the lack of human rights in America in the 20th century. The article delves into two specific plays which focus on racial and gender discrimination. Despite their age, the themes are relevant today, as equal rights continue to be an issue throughout the world. For example, "The Piano Lesson" shows the unfair treatment of women in the 1930's. This allows the reader or viewer of the play to both learn about history, and ponder the question of, "Have we really resolved this issue?" and "If we haven't, then why not?"
Post a Comment